Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Blog Kiosk: 12/19/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

Ouch!

Featured above is a vintage Associated Press photo of Duke Snider grasping his right elbow after being beaned. (eBay Auction Link)

THE DUKE IS FELLED. Duke Snider, hard-hitting centerfielder of the Brooklyn Dodgers, holds his right elbow and falls to the ground after being hit by ball being pitched by Giant relief hurler Marv Grissom in tenth inning of game at Polo Grounds, New York, night of June 29. An examination showed no break, but Snider could hardly lift his arm later. Giants won, 4 to 3, in 13th inning.

Snider sat out the next two games nursing that elbow, and would prove to be just fine when he came in as a pinch hitter during the third game after this incident. He walloped a triple to drive in a run in the ninth inning -- bringing the Dodgers within one run of tying a game (game link).

Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 2005 the Dodgers signed free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal to a three year/$39 million contract and Nomar Garciaparra to a one year/$6 million contract. In 2014 the Dodgers received veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins from the Phillies in exchange for minor league pitchers Tom Windle and Zach Eflin.

Small ball might be back in vogue. Via Alden Gonzalez at ESPN; "The shift, 100 mph heat, near impossible odds: How hitters are fighting back."

"Since I can remember being around advanced process in the major leagues, and player development at the major league level, the advancements on the run-prevention side have dwarfed what's going on in the run-scoring side," Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "If we're setting records for strikeouts as an industry, let's think about this differently -- let's ask different questions, let's be open-minded to ways we can possibly combat that."

...
"It should be important enough to get on base to be able to manipulate the bat and hit the ball the other way or to lay a bunt down," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We're going to get better at that. When you see one player on the left side of the infield and you're down a run -- we're going to challenge our guys to find a way to hit it over there. But you've got to do that by practicing. It's going to be a priority for us to get better at that."

Long before they dueled in the 2018 World Series, Alex Cora and Dave Roberts were teammates on the 2004 Dodgers. But apparently Cora has taken playful jabs at Roberts, suggesting he's cashing in on his famous steal in the 2004 ALCS.

Crossing fingers. Via Bill Shaikin at the LA Times; "MLB exploring ways for Dodgers games to be streamed to all fans, but it doesn't look promising."

The streaming option was first explored last winter, Manfred said, and would be discussed again in the coming winter.

“We explored some alternatives with the interested parties that might have used some Major League Baseball assets to get greater distribution,” Manfred said. “Unfortunately, a lot of those creative ideas we have affect the balance of power or the economic situation of the distributor or the RSN.

“It’s difficult to convince people to go along with any of these creative ideas. But we will be back at it again during this off-season.”

Hitting from a pronounced crouch, Ruiz is adept at using his lower half and quick bat to drive the baseball, and nearly half (49 percent, to be exact) of his contact was either a line drive or fly ball in 2018. Of course, that means Ruiz also had a high ground-ball rate (44.7 percent). However, given his present strengths as a hitter at such a young age, along with fact that he makes a lot of contact, there's reason to believe Ruiz will be an even more impactful hitter, hitting for both average and power, as he learns to elevate the ball more consistently.

The Giants are close to a deal with ambidextrous relief pitcher Pat Venditte, per source. They might have a switch-pitcher in their bullpen. Venditte broke through with A's in 2015 and had a 2.57 ERA in 15 appearances for Dodgers last season.

Pinterest

Supporters

Blue Heaven In The News

“There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey. There’s nothing like it in sports. I don’t care that I’ve never been anywhere else. I don’t care. There’s nothing like wearing a Dodger jersey.” -- A.J. Ellis